Plasma Collection

Plasma products are produced via plasmapheresis in a USDA licensed biologics manufacturing facility. Our plasmapheresis method is similar to the one used for collection of human blood. This method of collection is safe for our donors and yields a high quality sterile product. Our plasma products are not sterilized and contain no preservatives.

Storage& Shipping

Our products are stored frozen ≤ -20°C (≤ -4°F). In the frozen state plasma is stable for at least 3 years. Based on product life testing some of our plasma products have up to a 10 year shelf life.

Due to the frozen nature of our products they are shipped overnight air to your location.

Sometimes with the heat of spring and summer, our product may arrive with the outer units slightly defrosted. Do not be concerned. Our product can be refrozen upon arrival as long as these are some ice crystals or slush in the unit. If you are experiencing extremely high temperatures, please let us know when you order, so we may add ice packs accordingly.

Plasma Thawing Instructions

Frozen plasma must be thawed and warmed to body temperature. It is important that the temperature does not exceed 43.30C or 1100F during the thawing process.

If the plasma is overheated, it will suddenly become filled with precipitate. It will take the appearance of egg drop soup, due to the denaturing of the proteins. This occurs very rapidly once the critical temperature is reached. Once this happens you will not be able to administer the product.

Occasionally, a small amount of cryoprecipitate – fine clumps of fibrin will be present if the product is not brought up to body temperature. Warming and agitating will often bring this back into solution. It is not unusual to observe some fine clumps of fibrin even when the plasma reaches room temperature and is ready to transfuse. These fine fibrin particles are normal and can be easily and safely removed by using a blood administration set while administering the plasma.

Detailed Thawing Instructions

When you are thawing a plasma product, we recommend you do not exceed 110°F or 43.3°C. In order to assure that the product will not be at risk, we feel it is best to thaw at a temperature just below 110°F or 43.3°C

1) Begin filling a thawing container with water.

NOTE: Water temperature should not be uncomfortable to the unprotected hand. A temperature up to 110°F or 43.3°C is recommended to thaw the plasma safely. This temperature of water can be described as “hot tub water” or “hot dish-washing water”. Ideally the temperature of the water should allow the person to hold their unprotected hand in the water comfortably for at least 60 seconds. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you test the water this way before submersing the plasma bag.

2) Place the frozen plasma bag into the filled container and allow the bag to defrost. Be sure to continuously move the plasma around to prevent the formation of “hot spots” which could promote denaturing of the proteins in the plasma.

3) The water in the defrosting container will cool as the plasma bag defrosts, so it is acceptable to keep the hot water (as defined in the NOTE above) running throughout the defrost process. Do not allow the hot water from the faucet to directly contact the defrosting plasma, since this too will create “hot spots”.

4) The defrost process should take between 15 and 20 minutes.

5) If the plasma bag will be left unattended it needs to be defrosted in lower temperature water. We recommend lukewarm water, around 75°F or 24°C. This defrost process will take significantly longer but will pose no danger to the stability of the proteins in the plasma. It is recommended that the water be warmed to about 75°F (24°C) occasionally.